Issue 05 December - January by WOKAL Digital Magazine

ISSUE 05 | DEC-JAN

W O K A L INTERVIEWS WRITEFULLY YOURS

Features

Finding Bliss in the clicks of Parsi artist Jamshed Kavina

Design-Led Creative Stationery Brand

SARAH HUSSAIN

Glamma-Mia: The beauty enthusiasts

YouTube Sensation

What's Inside SIX Eco-friendly brands you need to look out for

The Greener, The

3 Glittering Make-up Looks for New Year's Eve.

Merrier!

How to Celebrate a sustainable Christmas

CONTENTS

08 15

23 30

Cover Story: The Greener, The merrier Welcome the new year with Zero Eco-guilt: Six sustainable business initiatives to look into Interview feature: Writefully Yours

Our memories full of pride: Yesteryear's pride parades

Into the light: High-key

35 41 44

photography

Playing with Shadows: Low-key Photography: Whose building is it anyway?: The art of framing architectural marvels

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ISSUE 05

DEC-JAN

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ISSUE 05

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The Zingy Life of Sarah Hussain

The bewitching allure of UGLY SWEATERS

Rainbow Yuletide: Merry and Gay movies to watch this Holiday Season

Featuring: Photographer Francis Maslet

The inquisitive for the romanticized DARK ACADEMIA aesthetic

The Caravan featuring Jamshed Kavina

The Known Tragedies of Covid 19:

Is this the dusk of a political dynasty

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88 98 103 110 115 121 125 130

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DEC-JAN

Shades of Glam: Year-end beauty wrapped This season, Go thrifting! A Goan Christmas: What all goes inside a Goan household as the advent approaches Why 17 years later Kal Ho Naa Ho is the perfect pandemic movie Welcome a glam 2021: Make-up mistakes to avoid the next year Glittering looks for New Year's Eve Paw-rfect Style for this winter Winter Woohoo: Make the jolly season cozy for your furry buddies

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ISSUE 05

Our warmest Wishes! This Holiday Season

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DEC-JAN

The Greener, the Merrier:

Wokal Issue 05 Alina Ahmed

HOW TO CELEBRATE A SUSTAINABLE CHRISTMAS

By Alina Ahmed Pictures by Aabiyah Zehra In frame model: Sheikh Almaas Islam

COVER STORY WOKAL MAG

‘Tis The Season To Be Jolly

WOKAL

This year there haven’t been many reasons to celebrate, but the Christmas spirit leaves no one behind. ‘Tis surely the season to be jolly. This holy festival doesn’t involve much pomp but is warm enough to mold the harsh winters into its kind light. Since the time of the Magi, gifting and giving have become synonymous with Advent, and we have created uncountable memories of this season. But now, it’s time to give back to our most compassionate supporter, the Earth. Let’s look at how we can aim towards reducing our carbon footprint while celebrating To our heart’s brim

Skip the Tree in the Christmas tree

Sounds a little odd, right? But I am sure your feelings will change once you will hear us out! Imagine you decorate an alternative to real evergreens or plastic pieces? What an innovative and quirky way to define your Christmas decor! Try decorating a ladder or a graphic pictorial tree this Christmas and give it back to mother nature!

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Eco-friendly gifts and packaging

WOKAL

Avoid packing gifts in those shiny plastics. As goes the saying, all that glitters is not gold, goes solemnly with shiny plastic wrapping. It is non-biodegradable and only keeps on filling landfills. Paper packaging can be a very sustainable way to pack your gifts this Christmas season. There are a lot of options to choose from, like handmade paper, recycled paper, or better still, newspapers!

Quirky DIY decor A simple way to reduce your carbon footprint is to refuse one time decor options. Making DIY crafts at your home not only saves a lot on your pocket but is also a great option to involve kids in the festivities. Ribbons, paper wall hangings and LED fairy lights are a greener option to make this christmas even more green.

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Wearing Thrifted Clothes

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Christmas is all about giving. Since this year has been really unforgiving to the under privileged, save your money by buying from thrift stores and in turn, donate some to those who are really in need of the winter clothing

Each Step Counts!

These are a few suggestions to make your Christmas merrier than it already is and remember, Every penny counts, so does every step towards sustainability.

BY ALINA AHMED

WELCOME THE NEW YEAR WITH ZERO ECOGUILT: Six sustainability practising organizations that you need to take a look at!

DEC - JAN ISSUE 05 WOKAL

BY ALINA AHMED

Standing in the eye of storm Looking through the future lens, one can not be very sure if our environment is ready to host the future generations with the same hospitality that was offered to us. Depleting natural resources are proof that we have not left a good footprint on the ecological balance. It wouldn’t be wrong to say that we haven’t quite been grateful to the fauna and flora but have missed no chance to manipulate other biotic as well as abiotic resources for our inexpedient needs. It is high time that we look back on our mistakes and aim towards sustainable living. Talking about sustainability, it should be our common aim to save ourselves from a dystopian future. Increasing forest fires and hurricanes are proof that we’re standing in the eye of the storm. The time to take action is now. There is no Plan B, No Planet B, either. Reorganizing our purchases, spends, and choices is an effective way to reduce our Carbon footprint and gradually reduce it to negligible. There are a few business initiatives that are contributing to sustainable living and making our planet a greener place to live. Their main aim is to REDUCE- the plastic and encourage eco-friendly buys, REUSE: what’s good enough to be used again, a significant conscience healer, and RECYCLE (read upcycle) waste and eco guilt. On these lines, we have thrown the limelight on a few initiatives that have sworn to make profits without making the ecological balance suffer. They are unique, greener, and in Vogue!

ISSIE 05

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RickshawRecycle

RickshawRecycle is an upcycling creative reuse initiative, that makes completely spinoff, innovative designs from the byproducts of their Head Company, Xylem Papercrafts. The paper waste generated is thereby completely utilized in the making of Crafts & DIYs, hangings, wall art, etc. Their Instagram page will make you stare at your phone screen in awe, such an aesthetic is not found even in the most exclusively designed glittery hangings. Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best, they have a physical outlet in the capital. Visit them once and fill your house with some chic upcycle decor without emptying your pocket.

Rusabl: Redefining basics Just like their baseline, Rusabl is seeking innovation in designing even the most basic daily items in a greenway, which is completely eco-friendly. Their USP includes minimizing plastics even if it is your toothbrush, use Bamboo toothbrushes instead! Their product range includes all your daily basic items with excellent design and a cute RUSABL motif printed on them. The product line includes steel straws (a must), face masks, steelery sets, bamboo flasks, and much more. Click on their website to discover a much wider range. REISE | PAGEÂ 4

Iteeha Store If you could help the environment and support an artisan at the same time? Wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t that be a wholesome deal? Iteeha does exactly that for you. It is an upcycling project which involves handcrafted fabrics and handmade designer accessories. If you go Iteeha, you will never have to compromise on design or sustainability. Plus, you support local artisans that have stitched your piece with love. Their recent upcycling collection made us go gaga over the sophistication of pastelshaded katran designs. Check out their Instagram page for more details

Daily Dump Founded in 2006 by Poonam Bir Kasturi, a National Design Institute alumni, Daily Dump is a design-led brand that has innovatively tackled the growing issue of effective waste management. Their terracotta dumping designs will make you re-evaluate your relationship with waste. With an aim to make composting a habitual activity in all households, Daily Dump brings a more dignified, easy, and fun edge to composting, something that we have known of but have never quite given a serious thought about. Dail Dumpâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s effective designs will impress you too to carry out a daily composting of your kitchen waste. If this small yet impactful step doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t convince you to become an active composter, we are sure their interactive website will certainly do the job!

The August Company If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re looking towards changing your consumption patterns especially when it comes to moving away from Fast Fashion brands, The August Co., is one of the alternatives that you should definitely look into. Being a smart, minimalistic brand that manufactures work-appropriate apparels, The August Co., also gives back to the environment as its cores are based on zero waste creation and working towards a women-empowered brand. Founded by Vidhi Singhal, this slow fashion brand lets you make environment-conscious choices. So next time you wear something from The August Co. to work, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re also effectively working for a greener future.

Oakark Thrift Reuse is as effective as reduce, and at Oakark Thrift, you get a great deal at low prices without hurting the environment. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all love when it comes to new clothes, but again, fast fashion is putting the Earth in danger. Thrifting is a new age term that fashion icons swear by too, so why should you lag behind? Start thrifting your wardrobe now!

WOKAL MAG ISSUE 05// DEC-JAN

October 2019 / Issue 2 / Vol 2

INTERVIEW FEATURE

WRITEFULLY YOURS BY ALINA AHMED AND KASHISH CHOPRA

In conversation with designled Creative stationery brand, WRITEFULLY YOURS, started by two School friends, SIMRAN KHURANA and KARAN CHUGH, while they were college sophomores.

Tell us something about yourselves. Simran: I’m 23 years old and have graduated with a B.Com (Hons) from Gargi College, University of Delhi, but I have never seen the degree to define me because I was a very different person. I always saw myself as a creative person. I’ve always defined myself like that, ideas keep coming to me, and find myself lost in them. I used to be a very extrovert person but now I’ve sort of reserved myself for certain people in my life. There are only a few things I like to do but I like to do them religiously. (smiles!)

Karan: I’m 22 years old, and. a Dayal Singh College Alumni. I was always sorted that I wanted to do some kind of business, be it a side business or a passive business but I’d be into business.

How did you become business partners? Simran: We started off as friends from school, and in our high school years, we started discussing what we wanted to do, sometimes even joke around that there might be something in the future that we would do together. After that, we got to University and went to different colleges. I remember this distinctively, in the second year of college, we were at a college fest and observed a lot of things, how people were buying things, basically how an Indian consumer was willing to spend money on a certain kind of a product. So that’s when this idea clicked and we both decided to start something together. That’s actually how we became business partners. Karan: I am a person who is not at all creative. If you ask me, then I’m someone who can run those ideas and someone who can execute those ideas. So that’s how we both clicked together. She pulled her ideas, she started it. Then I basically went to the vendors, for the collaboration part of it, the interns part so that’s how we basically connected. So at the beginning of the third year (in college), both of us started this. The only regret I have from Writefully yours is that we could have started this a bit earlier like in the first year, we would have been in a better place now.

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Please shed some light on your business initiative, Writefully_Yours. How did the idea come into existence?

Simran: I won’t call it a process but a culmination of small things that happened and you know when we hear these big stories that we started off this business in a garage with four to five friends, that’s something very relatable to us as both of started this but our friends played a major role in it. In the starting, you need a good push because you’re starting something new. So what happened was, like I told you we were at a fest and we observed certain patterns and the one thing which was common between the both of us was that we wanted to become independent, and this was a major driving force. We decided to let’s not chill around but do something meaningful instead. So that’s how we started, with an initial investment of just Rs. 2500, each. Karan: There is no process in business. Our main target audience was college students. College students like products that are creative and don’t require much investment. Simran is one of the most creative people among my friends so that his how our notebooks came into the picture and now we have extended our product range as well as the business. So there is no process of how a business grows, and you need to constantly follow what’s trending and plan accordingly.

How do both of you manage the business? What are the different portfolios that each of you handles Simran: So this was given in the starting itself. The nature of who we are defined our work. We had no issues finding our work because it eventually comes to doing what you’re good at. Karan has always taken care of the technical part of it, all the collaborations, vendors, and everything related to communicating and bringing the business out here, he has been the face of it. And as far as my work is concerned it was how the product supposed to look like, what design is supposed to go onboard. We both managed the growth and social media marketing together, simultaneously. Finances are something he has been taking care of. So work has always been divided like that.

What all goes into creating a social media presence for your business? Simran: I don’t think any video or podcast can answer this question as Social media is something that is changing every day and people might think that social media marketing is an easy task but it is very difficult to market there because marketing everything is been digitally marketed these days. The first thing I would say is to keep yourself updated about what’s going and trending. Doing your fair share of research on social media is also important, particularly about the things happening in your industry. There should be a competitor analysis. Even if one person manages one social media handle, it still is a mammoth task, but at the same time, it is an equally rewarding source of revenue. Karan: Not only for the revenue but social media presence is also important for brand building, so if a brand is not on social media, I don’t think it will go a long way.

What challenges did you face while bringing this business to life? Simran: A business is something that offers you a challenge every day, no matter how big or small. We have had our bundle of hurdles, from starting till today. Most of them have come when we had to go for arranging stalls. The major thing was planning because we were quite young when we started, especially going to a big event. So one thing that we have learned is to not take a loss to heart, learn from the experience, and move on from it. Karan: I would like to add that every customer in itself is a challenge because, in the kind of industry that we work in, there’s always some kind of customization required by the customer. From getting the product, to the packaging and finally dispatching it, every day has been a challenge.

Has the pandemic presented any hindrance to the business? Simran: The pandemic was something that was expected by anyone and it hit us really hard in the beginning. We had to make sure that the business runs, even if we are not growing, our business should survive the pandemic and not suppose to stop season, and gladly we have survived it. Karan: Before the pandemic, 80% of our revenue was generated from physically selling, and there were costs that we had to meet even when we werenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t generating much revenue, like the graphic designers, we were paying them and the warehouse rent. So all these hurdles were there but we have overcome them.

What advice would you like to give to the young entrepreneurs who have recently started building their brands? Karan: So one piece of advice from my side is to not settle for just one platform. (smiles!) Simran: Thinking too much is worse in a business, sometimes you also have to take the action, and even if you make a mistake you learn from it and take better action, and things will eventually fall into line.

Impromptu (the Rapid Fire round) 1. If you were a fictional character, which one would you be? K: Thor (because Simran likes Thor) S: Natasha Romanoff 2. A song that describes your personality the best. K: (Simran says she knows one for Karan but it’s inappropriate so let’s skip this) S: Hawa Hawaii, because I’m always in the air. 3. If you were a type of coffee, which one would you be? K: A cappuccino S: An espresso 4. Any good local artists/businesses that you discovered recently? K: Writefully Yours S: This band called Tarkash, it’s not local anymore but they’re a bunch of great artists, we both really like them. 5. One talent or quality that you would like to steal from each other. K: Creativity S: Being convincing to get what you want to be done 6. If you could eat, only one cuisine your entire life, what would it be? K: North Indian S: Thai or Italian 7. A novel based movie that was able to match your expectations. Both: Everything, Everything

Our Memories Full of Pride

ISSUE O5 • DEC - JAN • WOKAL

Kashish Chopra

After the world witnessed the first ever Pride Parade in 1970 , known (then) as the Christopher Street Liberation Day March, held in New York City. In 1999, India too, organised its first ever Pride Parade in Kolkata on the 2nd of July, with only around 15 participants in total. Even though the participation was extremely low, The Kolkata Rainbow Pride Walk was considered the oldest Pride March held in South Asia. Today, Pride Parades are held in over 21 cities in India, including Delhi. Kashish Chopra takes us through a virtual march, reminiscing yester years’ memories.

ISSUE O5 • DEC - JAN • WOKAL

Ever since 2008, Delhi has been a host to the magical, enthusiastic, and liberating aura of a Pride Parade. Organised each year in the month of November by the members of the Delhi Queer Pride Comittee, The Pride Parade is celebrated as a festival to honour and celebrate every queer person and their allies. It starts at Barakhamba Road where before the march takes off, people are seen distributing flags, painting each other's faces irrespective of whether they know each other or not, and then the Parade begins, after which love songs and slogans echo. Extreme chaos and dhol sounds take over in no time. The parade makes a stop at Tolstoy Marg, and ends at Jantar Mantar where everyone comes together and enjoys the lovely performances put up by different participants, from dance performances to singing and even Drag Shows! It’s a wholesome experience.

However, March 2020 brought along a series of disheartening events, all thanks to… let’s not say the ‘C’ word, it's always upsetting. But, how surreal our optimism proved to be. Here we are, sitting all wrapped up in our blankets with a cup of hot chocolate watching netflix all day long. Who knew November 2020 wasn’t going to be our favourite month this year. Who knew we weren’t going to lose our voices singing at the top of our lungs, so looking through our “this day in November 2019” reminders by Google Photos and Instagram was the only option we had. Reminiscing about the beauty of a Pride event and the heartwarming experiences they had, here’s what some of our friends have to say about the Delhi Pride Parades, what they loved the most and what they miss!

REMEMBERING YESTER YEAR'S PRIDE PARADES

Kashish Chopra

“Going to a pride parade was one of the most wholesome experiences ever! Seeing everyone be comfortable in their own skin, celebrating themselves and the people around them was one of the most positivity-inducing experiences ever! Highly recommended!!” -Pranay Bharadwaj “The pride parade was a beautiful learning experience for me. Being an ally, it really felt amazing to see the youth standing up for an oppressed community, accepting the distinctions within humans around us, and raising voice for their acceptance in society.” -Prerna

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“I feel safe at pride parades. By that, I don't mean physical safety— sure, that's there but I'm talking about the sense of safety that comes with belonging. I'm 19 and throughout school life, I never felt like I fit in. I felt like an imposter, and it wasn't just my sexuality, it was everything. People judge, and that's just how it is, but at pride, it's different. At pride, I'm not worried about what people think of me. Unlike school, there's no ingroup or outgroup, nobody's making fun of anyone. The first time I attended Pride was in 2017 and the sights, sounds, smells are etched into my memory so vividly, I can still feel my ears ring with the chants of "aazadi, aazadi, aazadi". That's where I felt SAFE for the first time. For me, the rainbow banner is shelter, it is home. It is where I am liberated, it is where I am free." - Amrita Ghosh

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I attended the Pride Parade in 2019 and the whole experience was breathtaking because of the overwhelming love and energy in the parade. Everyone from the community was so welcoming and had such warmth that it just can’t be expressed in words. I met so many amazing people there and on my way to Pride I met these two handsome lads and we instantly got totally comfortable with each other’s company. Today they are my closest friends. I did things I never thought I’d do, not ever in my wildest dreams. I took a banner which read “Free kisses” from somebody and ended up getting so many kisses and this girl with whom I shared kisses is also one of my good friends. I also got the courage to go up to people and tell them how cute/beautiful/hot they are and all of them were so sweet they even hugged me and my friends! Where do you find such warm, loving people? PRIDE PARADES! If I have to sum up the whole experience in a sentence, I’d say, “IT WAS THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE!” - Priyal

If there's something that I have missed the most this year, it was attending a pride march. It has always been a wonderful experience for me. The environment is so full of love and joy and I feel like I can finally be my true self. -Ariba Khan

KASHISH CHOPRA

WOKAL ISSUE.05

DEC - JAN

BY ITU DUTTA

Into the light: High-key Photography

Photo by Lukasz Szmigiel on Unsplash

WOKAL MAG

WOKAL

High-key Photography

What started off, as a method to display photographs on screens that had a hard time dealing with high contrast ratios correctly, slowly evolved to a preference which is used not only to set a lively and upbeat mood but also to produce attention warranting product adverts.

By Itu Dutta

Think bright photographs with an overexposed background that seem adamant on not having any shadows at all in the frame and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got the gist of what high-key photography is.

In a nutshell, it is the yang to the yin of Low-key photography, it is ensured that no shadows take up even a few pixels worth of space in the photo unless absolutely necessary. The photos come out looking like an ethereal masterpiece wherein the subject is enveloped in key-light.

Photo by Stephan Henning on Unsplash

WOKAL // DEC - JAN //

Photo by Robert Zunikoff on Unsplash

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Photo by Hayley Maxwell on Unsplash

Here are a few pointers that you could keep in mind while trying your hand at High-Key Photography:

Set up your shooting environment

Tailor the settings on the camera to achieve the white-out photos, i.e, longer shutter speed, lower ISO and a wider aperture .

Post-Photo :

In case you miss out on details while trying to reduce shadows, you can always work them back into the photograph while editing.

WOKAL PHOTOGRAPHY

Grab your DSLR or mirrorless or any device that lets you shoot in different lighting modes, prop up or find a spotless white background, and ensure that there is enough light to make a shadow here, a shadow there disappear into thin air ( this can be achieved with using Softboxes, fill lights and background lights)

The camera prep:

Low-Key Photography: Playing with Shadows WOKAL // PHOTOGRAPHY

Photo by Alexander Andrews on Unsplash

One of the many genres of photography that has surfaced over the years is Low-Key Photography, also known as Dark Photography. This kind of photography requires some uncommon gear like a dark background and light modifiers like an umbrella or a softbox (usually easily available in studios) and some regular gear like a tripod, a full-frame camera, and a fast lens. Wikipedia defines â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;low-key photography as a genre of photography consisting of shooting dark-colored scenes, and emphasizing natural or artificial light only on specific areas in the frame.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Aabiyah Zehra illustrates a few tips to take low-key photographs without a flash: (References from https://posterjack.ca/)

DWOKAL ISSUE 5 // DEC - JAN

Increase ISO

By Aabiyah Zehra

The higher the ISO, the more light you’re letting into your camera’s sensor, and the brighter your picture will be. The disadvantage of using a higher ISO every time is that photographs turn out to be grainy. For dark photography, turn your ISO up to approximately 800.

Lower Your Shutter Speed A slower shutter speed allows more light to enter the sensor of your camera. A prerequisite to getting a good photograph while working with a low shutter speed is keeping your camera as stable as possible, preferably with the help of a tripod. Since with a slower shutter speed, the shutter takes some time to open and close, even an iota of movement would lead to an unsteady picture.

Photo by Aabiyah Zehra

Use a Wider Aperture A wider aperture (using a smaller F-stop number) helps more light to reach your camera’s sensor. This is important in clicking a picture in low-light without a flash.

Use Light Modifiers Using light modifiers in front of your subject (not behind, unless you want your picture to turn into a silhouette).

Photo by Terry Vlisidis on Unsplash

WOKAL

Photo by Alexander Andrews on Unsplash

Use a Fast Lens (Optional): A fast lens has a wide aperture (f1.4, f1.8, or f2.8) and works well with a fast shutter speed which results in a stable picture.

Adjust the White Balance: The method of eliminating unrealistic color casts is White Balance so that items that appear white in person are made white in your picture. Adjust the White Balance according to the lighting of your surroundings to avoid artificial-looking lighting in the final picture. If you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to fidget with the White Balance, click your picture in Black and White.

The Better Format: Shooting in RAW format instead of JPEG format would better the quality of your images- make them sharper.

These are some important details to keep in mind before you go ahead and create a masterpiece! Happy snapping!

WOKAL

Photo by Ben Scott on Unsplash

EY LOW-K Y GRAPH O T O H P

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WHOSE BUILDING IS IT ANYWAY? The art of framing architectural marvels

DEC - JAN //

ISSUE.05

BY ITU DUTTA

Photo by on Farhan Khan Unsplash

LAKOW

Photo by Rafael Garcin on Unsplash

Photo by Zane Lee on Unsplash

THE ART OF FRAMING ARCHITECTURAL MARVELS Is it the mason’s? Is it the architect's? Is it the eventual owner’s? Or is it just the focal point of the street and its inhabitants and passersby? This question is still up for debate, but what isn’t is the skill involved in photographing the architecture and its myriad forms. If you have ever gone through the Architectural Digest, you’d know what is being referred to here. If not, there’s still a fair chance that you thought about Interiors, Exteriors, Bridges, and Landscapes upon coming across this term. Photo by Abhishek Fodikar on Unsplash

BY ITU DUTTA

The focus here is on the attention that is paid to the details, unlike Photojournalism or Sports Photography, there is no rush to capture or work in continuous shooting modes, the still subjects give enough time to plan and compose a photograph.

Black and white photographs while carrying an enigmatic aura also happen to turn our attention towards lines, structures, and textures and this is oftentimes used as a very active tool when it comes to architectural photography.

What makes it all the more interesting is that cameras and construction donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t exactly mix, there are many ways of playing with the perspective given the obvious disadvantage of not always seeing eye to eye with the top of the buildings.

As buildings serve as the very spine of what a society is built upon, the next time you go traveling or walk by the street you usually use to commute, try and question, what stories do the buildings tell?

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Photo by on Farhan Khan Unsplash

DEC- JAN

Photo by Izuddin Helmi Adnan on Unsplash

Photo by Marc Oliver Jodoin on Unsplash

WOKAL MAG

The Zingy Life of Sarah Hussain By Ikshita Bhatia

A YOUNG FOOD AND LIFESTYLE BLOGGER

YOUTUBE SENSATION

DEC - JAN ISSUE 05

SOCIAL MEDIAS GO-TO CULINARY JOURNAL

Wokal Mag

Breaking the stereotypes A young food and lifestyle blogger, YouTube sensation, and social mediaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s go-to culinary journal, Sarah Hussain has broken several stereotypes by pursuing a career out of the norm and succeeding in it. After a few years of sheer hard work and determination, she has a niche following on Instagram, she is in collaboration with multiple brands such as Cadbury and Dominos to name a few. The bubbly Sarah, the face behind Zingy Zest, got into a candid talk with food enthusiast Ikshita Bhatia. Excerpts:

DEC - JAN Issue 05

The interview 1. How did you decide to be a food, travel and lifestyle blogger ? What was your inspiration?

I was 19 years old and really bored, wanted to do something of my own. 2. Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the best and worst thing about being a food blogger?

Have to eat a lot, and still not gain weight is really fun and tough! 3. You try making something new and it fails, what do you do?

I make it again, failing is just a part of life

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DEC

Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s food to her! 4. What do your friends and family think of your life as an influencer?

Earlier they were a bit hesitant, I remember in college people use to make fun of it as well. But now, everyone is quite cool with it. 5.What is food for you?

Something I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t live without! 6. How do you manage to pump out good content consistently?

Being consistent is something that is very important, and my work really keeps me motivated hence pumping out new content is something I totally have fun doing.

SARAH HUSSAIN

2020

IKSHITA BHATIA ISSUE 05 DEC-JAN WOKAL MAG

7. Even though you're very accomplished and you're definitely not the person who should get hate comments, but do you receive them? If yes how do you deal with them?

9. How do you see the industry's future? Is this Influencer marketing bubble going to burst?

Most of the time I ignore it if it’s constructive criticism, I accept and work on it, if not just block the negativity.

I feel sooner or later it will take over Bollywood. It’s getting better and better with days.

8. What are you planning for your blog for the Christmas season?

10. Which are your favorite cafes in Delhi?

I am already having winter holiday season recipes, I have also decorated my workspace.

A lot really, and it totally depends on my mood. Yum Yum Cha, Andreas, Spice Market, Chili’s, and a lot more

DEC - JAN ISSUE 05

ZINGY QUOTES FROM A ZESTY SARAH: 1.“Sonny, true love is the greatest thing, in the world except for a nice MLT – mutton, lettuce, and tomato sandwich, where the mutton is nice and lean and the tomato is ripe. They’re so perky, I love that.” -- Max (Billy Crystal) in “The Princess Bride” (1987) 2. “Laughter is brightest where food is best”

The Bewitching Allure of An Ugly Sweater

Ugly sweaters, sometimes called: fugly, are the Xmas season's must-haves. They have come of age from being an eyesore to an eye candy. Read on this piece by Vinay Agarwal to discover more about this quirky trend.

Wokal Issue 5 Dec-Jan

By Vinay Agarwal

Image Credit: Tipsy Elves

Ugly sweaters are the ‘crocs’ of Xmas fashion. Once referred to as 'Xmas sweaters, these ugly sweaters are now, part of Yuletide culture in a big way. Not to mention, a multimillion dollar business too! Yes, they’re silly and tacky to look at, but fun as well. A-listers are seen in them. Beyonce wears them. So does Bella Hadid, the super-model of our times. The month of December (read: Xmas) seems incomplete without it. These garish knits have seamlessly managed to acquire Xmas currency of their own with

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numerous events such as Ugly sweater contests and parties planned around them. Rather, they have transcended fashion and became an indispensable part of the Christmas tradition. And perhaps, all of these qualities max up their allure, making it the hottest accessory for the last week of December. Heavily rooted in nostalgia, these sweaters can signify feelings of comfort for many. More so, in times like this when the people want to go back to the ‘old normal’ ways of living. Sorry, new normal!

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Image Credit: Backgrid The trend of ugly sweaters started gathering heat sometime in 1980s and has stayed on since then. In fact, it is going rock solid than ever and enjoys a fair share of fashion cum cultural representation in mainstream pop-culture. Before one knew, it became a tour de force and glided into high fashion. I remember my first brush with an ugly sweater at a newly opened H&M outlet. It screamed ‘excess’ and felt humorous in its own way (we all can do with a bit of humor, this year). I won’t lie. It did feel too much. Still, it managed to make me, a convert. As I tried it on with a little prodding from my friend and stared at my reflection in the mirror,

I couldn’t help but feel silly. Perhaps, this was the whole point of their being. I broke into hearty laughter punctuated with the tiny bells of the sweater, who seemed to have joined in at some point without my knowing. However, you may wish not to take my words seriously. I would also encourage you to try it for yourself. The allure of an ugly sweater needs to be felt, experienced, and rejoiced. So many celebrities can’t be wrong.

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The Hottest Designs of 2020 & The Ugly Sweater Checklist:

Sweater by Microsoft

This year, Microsoft unveiled two designs of ugly sweaters that got sold out within minutes. The designs featured logos of MS Paint and Windows’95. Frito lays too, jumped into the bandwagon by launching their offerings in cheery yellow. If you’re wearing an ugly sweater, don’t shy away from going big. Go garish; the more is your sweater tacky; the dope your look is. Follow these pointers to nail the art of wearing the ugly sweater:

Sweater by Frito Lays

Watch out for elements of humor such as bells, fur trimmings. If it looks ‘too costume-y’ to you, perhaps it is the right pick. Go overboard with colors and patterns. Don’t be afraid to look like a walking Xmas tree. Take lots of pictures; remember to pose silly. Revel in those ugly knits. To borrow Marie Kondo’s line: let it ‘spark joy’ for you. Accessorize it with Santa hats for the added cheer. Keep the make-up minimal, for a balanced over-all look. You can either love these knits or loathe them, but you cannot ignore them. You just cannot, no matter how hard you try.

Sweater by Fye

Rainbow Yuletide: Merry and Gay Movies to Watch this Holiday Season. By Elizabeth Reji

Christmas season is here and most of us like to sit wrapped up in our blankets with a cup of hot chocolate and watch a heart touching holiday season movie. The majority of 2020 may not have given us a lot to be joyous and cheery about, but the holiday season is nearly upon us, and while it's going to look and feel a lot different this year considering all that's going on in the world, we do have a lot of LGBTQ+ content to help us get in the spirit! Here is a list of heartwarming queer LGBTQ+ Holiday season movies, curated by Elizabeth Reji, to make your holidays a bit more colorful.

HAPPIEST SEASON The first LGBTQ+-focused holiday rom-com backed by a major studio, Happiest Season is directed by Clea DuVall. It tells the story of Harper (Davis) and Abby (Stewart), who run into problems when they are headed to Harperâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s home for the holidays to visit her overachieving family, and has to reveal some crucial information. The movie costars Holland, Dan Levy, Victor Garber, Mary Steenburgen, Alison Brie, Aubrey Plaza, and Ana Gasteyer. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a warm romantic comedy with all of the holiday fixings. Happiest Season puts a queer spin on a conventional tale, spreading a message of hope and acceptance during a year in which we need it most.

WOKAL // DEC 2020

Elizabeth Reji

HOLIDAY HEART After losing his police officer lover, Christian drag queen Holiday Heart (Ving Rhames) meets 12-year-old Niki (Jessika Quynn Reynolds) and her drug-addicted mother, Wanda (Alfre Woodard). Heart finds relief from heartache and a renewed sense of purpose when he steps in as a father figure to Niki and welcomes the two women into his life. But when Wanda becomes romantically involved with her drug dealer, Silas, it may endanger Niki and threaten to destroy the makeshift family. It is a touching story of four persons, so different but all wanting the same thing - to be loved.

DASHING IN DECEMBER Taking the tried-and-true Christmas movie formula of a big city slicker returning to their small home town for the holiday season to find love unexpectedly, but making it gay? That's exactly what Paramount's queer romcom Dashing in December is doing, and we absolutely love to see it! When Wyatt Burwall finally returns home for the holidays in an effort to convince his mother Deb to sell the family's Colorado ranch, a romance unexpectedly ignites between Wyatt and their dashing new ranch hand Heath Ramos, who dreams of saving the beloved property and the ranch's magical Winter Wonderland attraction while reawakening the spirit of Christmas in Wyatt's lonely heart.

WOKAL // DEC - JAN 2020 // ISSUE.5

THE

CHRISTMAS SETUP

IReal-life couple Ben Lewis (“Arrow”) and Blake Lee (“Fam") have been cast in “The Christmas Setup,” Lifetime’s first-ever LGBTQ-lead original holiday movie. The Christmas Setup is Lifetime's upcoming answer to the serious lack of LGBTQ+ representation in holiday-themed media! The Christmas Setup follows a New York lawyer named Hugo (played by Lewis), who brings his best friend Madelyn (Ellen Wong) home to Milwaukee, Wis. for the holidays. There, his mother Kate (Fran Drescher) is in charge of the local Christmas celebrations, but she isn’t too busy to play matchmaker for her son, arranging it so Hugo bumps into Patrick (Lee), his high school friend and secret crush, who recently returned to their shared hometown after a successful stint in Silicon Valley. Hugo and Patrick spend time together during the holiday events and their attraction is “undeniable,” but Hugo receives a promotion that requires a move to London, which makes him have to decide what is most important to him.

WOKAL // DEC - JAN // ISSUE.5

MAKE THE YULETIDE GAY In this queer-themed comedy of errors, college student Gunn is out and proud at school, but he hasn’t gotten around to telling his Midwestern family that he’s gay and that his “roommate,” Nathan, is actually his boyfriend. Gunn’s mom and dad try to set him up with an old high school girlfriend over Christmas, but the tinsel really unravels when Nathan shows up unannounced. This indie rom-com is full of charm, humor, and heart — and basically spelled out the plot of “Happiest Season” a decade in advance. You can expect cringy acting and witty puns throughout the movie.

Other queer-themed holiday movies: Carol (2015) Love the Coopers (2015) Ghosting: The Spirit of Christmas (2019) Let It Snow (2019) Season of Love (2019) A New York Christmas Wedding (2020) The Christmas House (2020)

We hope you enjoy these holiday movies and make you feel warm and fuzzy even though this year hasn't been the best of all. Go ahead, take a sleigh ride through the movies that made the Yuletide gay.

Featuring

FRANCIS MESLET B A S E D

I N

F R A N C E

WOKAL FIND HIM AT: HTTPS://FRANCISMESLET.COM @FRANCISMESLET

WOKAL

Open Mind - Abandoned Chapel, France

Francis MESLET A LOOK AT THE SILENCE

A graduate in Design from the Fine Art School of Nancy in 1986, early in his career Francis Meslet was a designer, but soon turned to advertising when he joined several agencies as an artistic director. After 30 years spent questioning the creative concept and studying images in all his compositions, he is now a creative director. Take me to the Sky - Abandoned Castle, France

Francis does not hesitate to roam the world in his spare time, searching for abandoned sites, sanctuaries where time seems to have stopped after humans have evacuated them. He thus brings back captivating and melancholic images of his travels to the other side of the world...

...In these deserted places, no more than the rustling of the wind can be heard through a broken window or the sound of water dripping from a dilapidated ceiling. These silences nonetheless invite the spectator to slip into these well-guarded and mysterious places captured by the photographer and attempt to bring to life that which has been forgotten. In this power station orders were shouted in German, in this French Catholic school the cries of children resounded to the sound of the bell but who can imagine the sounds hidden behind the walls of this old psychiatric asylum in Italy or on the docks of this abandoned island off Japan? From these silences, everyone can imagine their own interpretations, ...reinterpretations.

A brief opening moment - Abandoned Mansion, France

WOKAL

Never look back again Abandoned Theatre, Italy

I came to tell you that I am coming back Abandoned Church, France

The Inquisitive For The Romanticized Dark Academia Aesthetic

WOKAL

Photo by Aabiyah Zehra

By Jigisha Sharma

The existence of dark academia seems to have propelled us in times when weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been more dependent on technology. It's somewhat ironic since dark academia emphasizes nostalgia and a world free from the whirlwinds of technology. Though it is unclear how dark academia exclusively began, it indicates that it was discovered on Tumblr. Jigisha Sharma further explores this dark aesthetic theme. Aesthetics is a branch of philosophy that in the most general sense means the romanticized idea of beauty and art. The Dark Academia is a complex aesthetic to extrapolate further there are genres that can be explained. When I think of dark academia I think about the very existence of romanticized academia.

Wokal Mag

TUMBLR OR UNCLEAR?

December 2020 Issue 05

Old hats and Magnifying glasses? The 1940s Academia doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t necessarily have an explicit passion for ancient history or classical literature. Instead, they spend their time researching The Great War that was precedent as thoroughly as possible. They wore brick red lipstick no matter the occasion. If you look around their residences, you may find a collection of portable typewriters, or perhaps an envelope filled with old photographs of their parents or of forgotten acquaintances. Their essential wardrobe clothes are either rich brown or army green. Cigars are their best friends, just like they idolize their newly elected prime minister, Winston Churchill. Picture a vast room, its surfaces cladding with Victorian brass artifacts. Ornaments including old gramophones, typewriters, old grandfather clocks, globes & magnifying glasses. The walls have fascinating maps pinned on to see the world unlike before, & old atlases of foreign languages amongst the yellowed illustrations of the English coastlines. Now picture the person whose existence is of prominence in the room. They must love old hats & magnifying glasses. People say this person is a Mad Writer and had a cryptic past, but neither of them ever elaborate on it. Their favorite wardrobe piece is their way of expression, a pair of antique boots, perfect for exploring various types of terrain irrespective of how difficult or how not very difficult the weather. Rachel Maksy on YouTube has a great Victorian Treehouse video which is a perfect example of the aesthetic. Wokal Mag

Dark Academia is the pursuit of knowledge that lasts a lifetime. In retrospect, to delve in the realm is to broaden your mind for what awaits an unearthed fragment of you. As much as dark academia is Eurocentric we can also create a parallel for it for Indian academia for reference to the Indian renaissance of the cultural and artistic movement in India where academia plays a significant role, where a new way of studying India was brought in. Similarly as in the 19th century when the Victorian era was prevalent. It is also relevant since it was influenced by western thinkers, the rise to the extensive study of English literature and philosophies and books of history.

Movie and book recommendations on the same aesthetic lines:

The secret history- Donna Tartt Dead poets society – Nancy H. Kleinbaum Ninth house – Leigh Bardugo Picture of Dorian Gray – Oscar Wilde

Indian Recommendations Devdas by Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay Any and every book by Rabindranath Tagore and Ruskin Bond The Palace of Illusions by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

Some dreamy dark academia outfits that have got the people swooning, of and for the aesthetic: - cherished blazer in olive undertones with a cotton black crew neck sweater both tucked into tweed pants - white linen button-down cuffed at the sleeves, checked grey tweed blazer well worn tucked into the elbow - cotton black sweater, white collar of a shirt folded out over the sweater with pegged pants or oxfords - Burgundy cardigan over a white shirt and a black tie, and burgundy underdone pants - Black sweater, sleeves pushed to the elbows with messy hair held up with a pencil, speaking Shakespeare to a coffee mug

ISSUE 5 DECEMBER 2020

The Caravan: Stories to Share Finding Bliss in the clicks of Parsi artist Jamshed Kavina Jamshed Kavina in a candid discussion with Itu Dutta and Aabiyah Zehra

Wokal

JAMSHED

KAVINA

Jamshed Kavina, a 23-year-old lawyer who was born in Jamshedpur but has lived all his life in Ahmedabad, India, is currently a lawyer at the Gujarat High Court but is an active Instagrammer who loves taking pictures. He started off his Instagramming journey quite by chance, by trying to emulate a few seniors from his school, but along the way, he's found a true passion for photography and everything connected to it. In this candid discussion with Itu Dutta and Aabiyah Zehra, he talks about his oeuvreâ&#x20AC;Ś

1 . WHA Tâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S YOUR WORK-DAY L IKE? So

while

I'm

active

Instagrammer, that is not my day

job.

I'm

lawyer

the

Gujarat High Court. Currently, because of the way this year has

been,

mixture

function

Work

From

Home

2. WHAT'S THE THOUGHT PROCES S BE HIND YOUR PHOTOS ?

and going to the office. Some days

are

aren't

hectic

and

that's

some

perfectly

alright.

3. HOW HAS YOUR PRACT ICE CHANGED OVER T IME? This is actually a really important question. I've very often said that the thing separating, say me, with a

person

taking

who

has

photographs

just is

started

only

and

only, practice. The practice is key. If you constantly take photos, you naturally improve with time. You see

things

whole

differently

style

changes

and

your

taking

pictures

the

years.

over

Nowadays I rarely use any other equipment apart from my phone whereas years

ago

would

not

when

that

was

just

starting. It's important to just do what feels right to you. There is no right

practice

deeply

nor

personal

wrong.

choice

It's

and

a to

figure out what works for there is no

substitute

practice.

for

time

and

I believe that if you always try to think out each and every one of your

photos,

around

you'll

taking

never

any

get

pictures

and will miss so much happening around

you.

you

constantly

take pictures you have a lot to work with later. Also very often you'll

not

know

what

picture

means to you until you have time to

sit

with

mentally.

and

the

process

only

thought

process most often is to be in the moment and see everything that is there to see.

Dec 2020 Wokal

4. TELL US ABOUT A DREAM PROJECT THAT YOU HAVE. To be very honest, I really don't have one. It's not because I am not ambitious or lazy. It's just that when you keep only one thing, like a dream project in mind, everything you do only tries to make you reach that project. You may reach it soon enough and then you'll stand thinking, 'what next?' It also completely takes away from the present because you find no joy in the here and now and you're constantly thinking about this better tomorrow. Instead, I believe in enjoying the here and now. Whether it's a photo of the sky or a photo of a little ladybug on the beach, it is the here and now that is more important. 5. IF YOU HAD TO SUM UP THE ESSENCE OF PHOTOGRAPHY IN A LINE, WHAT WOULD YOU DESCRIBE IT AS? A very famous French Photographer named Robert Doisneau said that he takes pictures "as if to challenge time." That for me sums up the essence of photography. A photograph is the only way we can protect something forever from the usual decay caused by time.

6. DO YOU THINK PHONE PHOTOGRAPHY HAS ANY ADVANTAGES OVER TRADITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY OR VICE VERSA?

All the purist photographers will hate me for saying this but I think phone photography is the way ahead. The reasons are innumerable. It's cheaper (compared to a fancy camera), it's more accessible, more portable, easier to use, less intrusive to others too, amongst many other plus points. Sure phone photography has its limitations, but once you know what your phone can and cannot do well, the possibilities are endless. I've been noticing that I myself don't use anything apart from my phone on trips nowadays and I personally think that it's wonderfully easy. Definitely, yay.

7. HAS THE PANDEMIC AFFECTED YOUR CREATIVE PROCESS IN ANY FORM?

I was watching this design show once and there an artist said that it's only amateurs who wait for inspiration, professionals just go to work every day. It really stuck with me. Let me be clear, I'm no professional. But I've been taking pictures regularly for the last 7 years of my life for Instagram. It becomes a habit after a point in time. So I didn't find it difficult to come up with new stuff during the pandemic at all. If you push yourself to create something every day, you may or may not succeed but you'll naturally develop the habit of creating something regularly. That habit is very very important. Don't wait for constant feedback or planning your feed just right, just start.

8. WHICH IS YOUR MOST CHERISHED WORK AND WHY?

At the risk of sounding vapid, I have to say that I have no such work in particular. Because in my opinion, it was all-important. The story behind each photograph is different. It may not even be related to the photograph itself but it's like a hyperlink to what I was thinking and feeling at that time when I took the picture. It reminds me what I was, what I liked, what I hated, who made me feel great and who didn't, and with time perhaps all of that is more important to me than one particular moment. These photographs are the only way I can remember everything.

9. WHY DO YOU CAPTURE WHAT YOU CAPTURE?

It actually took me some time to answer this. I think I've answered it partly in my answers to the above questions, but I can add to that a little by saying that it helps me enjoy the present. In a year such as this, it's become abundantly clear that there is plenty to worry about every single day. There is not much joy to be found unless you look for it. And perhaps these photographs are a way of looking for that little bit of joy in the here and now. Even if it's in the smallest of things. Taking a picture of the way the sunlight falls on your hand or a picture of a vintage car parked just so on a road, won't make all the troubles of the world go away, but it helps you see a little past those troubles. It gives you hope and sometimes even happiness. If not, at the very least it lets you express yourself. Also, the ability to be able to share that with someone else who may be able to see it the way you did and feel a little better themselves, that itself is worth doing this day in and day out.

Kavinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s display of photographs on his Instagram gives us a sense of tranquility and reminds us to keep an eye out for the little things in life that make us happy. Head over to @the.parsi on Instagram to witness him curate his artistic feed so very effortlessly. His sense of aesthetic, the fun projects he comes up with (like the #BeautifulSkySeries), and the sage messages behind all his photographs will definitely leave you awestruck.

THE KNOWN TRAGEDIES OF C OVID-19

Equations changed, Unintended

Wokal Dec 2020 Issue 05

I think we can all admit that we changed more than we intended to in the past year. Whether it was the pandemic engulfing our lives without a warning or finally somewhat making peace with growing up, we all stumbled upon new versions of ourselves See that's the thing about our lives and this city, they're extravagant and tragic. Delhi is filled to the brim with a melange of cultures birthed by beautiful people who seem to be from different planets altogether. Ah, what do I say about this city that hasn't already been said. We love our silence and solitude but perhaps not as much as we love our glamour and parties. From food and film festivals to concerts, comedy stand-ups, and infinite celebrations, there is something for everyone. So here's a trip down the nostalgia lane by an ode to some of our glittery getaways:

Equations changed, Unintended

THE GRUB FEST:

This is probably Delhi's most popular food festival and I like to call it a "Desi Pretentious Coachella". The food, wine, bingeing, and music here never stops. It's a haven of the top restaurants, chains, and chefs ready with infinite choices for us foodies. It's a three-day event that happens late every year in JLN Stadium.

A trip down the nostalgia lane

WORLD BOOK FAIR

A bibliophile's heaven

This event lives up to its name with shelves overflowing with books of every possible genre and language. It's not worth missing out on with authors signing novels, posters of your favorite sci-fi movies hanging from walls, and students carrying bulks of books which they bargained to the lowest possible prices. It's a week-long event that happens early each year at Pragati Maidan.

COMIC-CON

It's a comic based convention and a celebration of pop culture where fandoms come together in their most elaborate cosplays and prepared to spend all allowance on irresistible merchandise. It's an oasis of bright pink wigs, tree sticks turned to wands against dark arts, and low budget Marvel/DC, gaming, anime, comic characters ripoffs. It happens for three days annually at the NSIC Exhibition Ground.

WOKAL ISSUE 05 // DEC - JAN

TRADE FAIR The name speaks for itself and this is as desi as it gets. It is an event brimming with life with colorful handicrafts from every state, lovers giggling while getting their names written on rice grains, sweets, and styles popular in unfamiliar villages, and possibly every other product or service you can think of. It takes place for two weeks in November at Pragati Maidan. By Hiba

JASHN-E-REKHTA

It is the world's largest Urdu literary festival. It celebrates our heritage with Ghazals, Qawwali, Sufi Music, CelebRecitations Performances, Calligraphy, and a variety of cuisines. It adorns the finesse of Urdu by bringing artists and poets home to tradition. It's a three-day event held annually at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, near India Gate.

History is the best reflection of the future.

Immediately after the Spanish Flu Pandemic, the Roaring Twenties happened. It was a decade of prosperity and consumerism where culture, fashion, arts, and music boomed. People were sick and tired of disease, distance, and death. It was time for sparkly dresses, lavish parties, and beautiful strangers. History is the best reflection of the future. It's 2020 and we're stuck in the middle of a pandemic, kind of ominous isn't it? A little more despair to bear and it's countless Gatsbyesque soirĂŠes and a whole new decade of the Roaring Twenties bracing to be written by us. Written by Hiba

IS IT THE DUSK OF A POLITICAL DYNASTY?

BY DANISH AHMED LONE

STRUGGLING FOR A BREATH

Presently, Congress is once again in deep crisis. It is struggling for itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s breathing and not for a beautiful future. Its credibility has fallen. A National Party which has pioneered welfare in the country is struggling to gain an oppositional position in regional politics. Is it because of the Gandhian stamp marked on Congress or some other additional elements which are drowning Congress? Danish Ahmad Lone tries to assimilate this roaring debate.

DANISH AHMED LONE

ISSUE 05 Wokal

Momentarily, the history of the congress party is repeating itself in federal and national politics. Congress party is once again confronting the structural and administrative crisis. The emergence of right-wing politics has waned and declined the space for Congressâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; claimed democratic and socialistic protocol. Whether it is the Congress partyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s prominent members running out of the party or its awful defeats in local and national elections, it appears as if everything is falling out of the hands of Congress. The party that enjoyed power for almost half a century is in a deep confrontation where it is struggling merely for its existence and not for its essence. Most of the contemporary political commentators and reviewers are assuming the Gandhian lineage responsible for this slip. They are being deemed accountable for the ongoing catastrophe which has left the Congress hardly in parliamentary opposition. But, is the Gandhi family really a burden for the Congress? To answer this question, we have to look into the history of Indian politics.

Back in the years of 1967-1968, the Indian National Congress was exactly going through the existential decaying and deterioration which the present-day Congress is undergoing. The then central members of the party were similarly trotting after vested interests as the present-day members are coming off. With internal decaying, Congress was losing its superficial shine too. Unlike the present-day Congress, the then Congress leaders were encountering more sophisticated dilemmas. They were not only suffering interior structural and federal crises but were also confronting economic crises accompanied by mass protests. Internal conspirators and fierce external opposition tried their best to depose the then Gandhi, Indira Gandhi. But she splashed very cautiously by hitting the common man's mind. She addressed every crisis and managed to recoup both the essence and the party's political portrait. Even after the enactment of a disastrous national emergency, her son also wielding the Gandhi stamp made it into the Prime Ministerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s office. After him, the Congress continued to be in power for almost a decade.

IS THE GANDHI LINEAGE A LIABILITY FOR THE CONGRESS? BY DANISH AHMED LONE

The politics of any country is determined by its masses and not by the political figures of the state. History shows us that dynastic politics has been perpetually accepted by the masses. Identical to the external world, the same is the case with Indian politics. People here are overwhelmingly accepting and cheering for dynastic politics. Whether it is Tejasvi’s largest single party knock-in Bihar, Uddhav Thackeray's rise in Maharashtra, Owaisi’s consistent wins in Hyderabad, or Omar and Mehbooba's prominent portrayals in Jammu and Kashmir, the dynasty politics has always been approved and applauded by common masses. Sometimes when other interests and issues imply more primacy than dynastic politics, time gives birth to leaders like Rahul Gandhi who fall debilitated of nourishing the common man's interest. Does this mean that it is the Gandhian mark that is making Rahul Gandhi a burden of the party? The answer is no. It is his political inefficiency and maybe lack of interest in the field which is slipping them into a plunge. At the same time, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, also a Gandhi, is earning more enthusiastic response and acknowledgment from people than her mother and brother. People are valuing her even though she hasn’t contested any national elections yet. This exhibits that it is not lineage but inefficiency which impacts the final results.

IS CONGRESS SLIPPING DOWN BECAUSE OF THE GANDHI FAMILY? The founding fathers of Congress established it with a democratic and secular spirit. It was organized to furnish the common man with political space. It was aimed to absorb all the welfare and development ideologies. But, momentarily Congress has abandoned its primary principles. The common man's space in the party has shrunken and dwindled. Secondly, another facet that directs congress into trouble is the vested interests of its members. Most of its members seem apathetic about its revival to athletic national politics, it appears as if they are concerned about their vested interests rather than of party interests. The example from recent Bihar elections is making this assertion more strong where we see the right-wing equipped with all its central faces and we hardly see any prominent congress leader campaigning for the partyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s welfare. Also, Congress has abandoned communicating and interacting with the local people. The central figures are completely inefficient in cultivating the common man's interests. The final and foremost facet which drowns Congress is national media. The right-wing media fought with tooth and nail to worsen the already broken image of the Congress. All these inabilities and inefficiencies are plunging Congress into a dilemma. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not the Gandhi association but the Congressâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; central, administrative and contemporary undemocratic structure that is barricading them. Otherwise, the Gandhis are an asset rather than a liability for the Congress.

ISSUE 05. DEC - JAN 2020

Danish Ahmed Lone Danish Ahmad is studying Economics at Aligarh Muslim University. He is a political enthusiast and can be reached at danishlone397@gmail.com

DEC - JAN SSUE 05

@GLAMMA-MIA

SHRUTI AND TANISHA PRESENT

Shades of Glam: Your Year-End Beauty Wrapped!

Done with music wrapped 2020? Why not wait for beauty wrapped 2020 before wrapping 2020 itself? The story of 2020- trying not to forget ‘the mask’ when we step out and ‘sheet mask’ when stuck at home. You might have missed a lot of parties but we would not let you miss out on the new make-up and skincare that ruled this year. Beauty enthusiasts Shruti and Tanisha, who run a well-being page Glamma-miaa, on Instagram, researched this year’s beauty mantras, and here is what they have to say. By now, you must have checked your music wrapped of 2020, this list is none other than the Beauty Wrapped 2020!

WOKAL. DEC 2020

1. FACE ART:

The lockdown phase surely stirred up the artist in us. From painting clouds on our cheeks to using glitter till our collarbones- we have taken art to another level. This makeup trend is not just limited to Halloween anymore and is bringing animated characters to life.

DEC2020 ISSUE 05

2. NEON EYES:

2019 was all about neon clothes but 2020 is all about the Neon Eyes! The only things bright this year were our eyes. Unlike Trump, these neon colors arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t racist and suit every skin color and type.

ISSUE05 DEC 2020

3. COLORED MASCARA” Life was all black and white back then and 2020 came with a gist of blue, and so did the mascara brands! It’s time to get ourselves all the colored mascaras and be partyready!

4. FLOATING EYELINER: Gone are the days doing a cat-eye was quite a task, this new floating eyeliner trend is going to put cat-eye to shame. Adding such graphic details gives that extra sass to your look. WOKAL

5. GUA SHA, FACE ROLLER AND FACE MASSAGER:

By Tanisha and Shruti DEC 2020 ISSUE 05

Bring your own face spa at home! It’s time to relax your facial muscles with these cool and soothing stones. This has been an important step in the Korean skincare regime and is proven to be very effective. So don’t forget to make your skin glossy and young this year.

6. BODY SCRUBS:

Coffee is not just what we drink anymore in the morning but also what we apply to our skin! With skincare not just limited to our face, these body scrubs have been the most trending products this year. Detox your skin with the products or even DIYs including coffee and sugar that have been the swing of 2020. WOKAL

7. KNOW YOUR PRODUCTS!:

This year has been all about selfawareness and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not only bounded to covid19. Bychoosing whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best for our skin and avoiding all the harmful chemicals, this year is not just about what we eat but also what we apply to our skin. From vegan beauty to steer clear of parabens and alcohol in our products, this is a new revolution in the world of skincare to step ahead and embrace our beauty.

Glamma-Miaa!

FOR THE LOVE OF SKINCARE! We discovered our love for Skincare and make-up about a year ago. We created this page with an aim to guide people about their skinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s needs but instead, we found our own journey. When we talk about skincare, everyone thinks either about the expensive products or the fancy DIYs but they often forget to consider the process of change. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important that we give time to our skin. We, at Glamma_miaa try to provide a helping hand to people to know the most effective and affordable products for all skin types and concerns. With skincare being our prime concern, we have tried to reflect on make-up products and accessories as well. This is a small yet versatile attempt to reach and familiarize people with how they treat their skin and remind them to stay hydrated! WOKAL

-Tanisha and Shruti

This Season, Go Thrifting!

WOKAL Issue 5 Dec - Jan

After diamonds, shopping is a lady’s’ best friend. Endless visits to the fitting rooms, The thrill of trying on new clothes, taking them home, and then showing off your style quotient is a wholesome experience on its own. While most of us love to indulge in this guilty pleasure, it really is leaving behind its moral guilt as the fast fashion industry has been exposed as a hell-hole for the workers making these clothes. Other than this, the fashion industry is one of the largest producers of cloth waste. The solution can be found in Thrifting, where people sell off their less-used clothes in a way to reuse and recycle their wardrobe Items. Sneha Barua expands how…..

Does the idea of buying “new clothes” for ourselves give you all the joy in the world? What goes on behind the scenes in the manufacturing industry will give you a sense of discomfort. Around 260 million children are in employment around the world, and according to the International Labour Organisation, child labour, as defined by the UN, means “work for which the child is either too young – work done below the required minimum age – or work which, because of its detrimental nature or conditions, is altogether considered unacceptable for children and is prohibited”. While this is being practiced all around the world in endless industries as you’re reading this, the textile industry is one of them. Many of these children work within the fashion supply chain, manufacturing textiles and garments to satisfy the demand of consumers.

WOKAL

Fast fashion has engendered a race to the bottom, pushing companies to find ever-cheaper sources of labour. That cheap labour is freely available in many of the countries where textile and garment production takes place. High-end fashion brands are more likely to rely on forced labor factories to manufacture their products. Not just child labour, the workers are not even given minimum wage and are literally slaves of these high end companies. While we happily shop from brands like Zara and H&M, the workers aren’t even paid the 1% of the amount that these clothing items are sold at. So, the next time you shop from these brands, remember that you are indirectly endorsing child labour and slavery. The e solution to this is to go thrifting. Shopping secondhand is not only incredibly sustainable but can also be very affordable

Buying locally from thrift stores or online resale sites means you can still buy the brands you like without supporting their unethical practices. Shopping second-hand decreases demand on new retail goods — especially clothing — creating less pressure on companies to produce large volumes of clothes for profit. Moreover, thrifting keeps others’ unwanted clothes out of landfills, and decreases the probability that you’ll buy an item and quickly grow tired of it, since you're consuming not at the whim of the fickle fashion industry trends, but at your own judgment. If you’re looking to buy clothes on a budget, shopping second-hand is a no brainer. Thrifting is the easiest way to experiment with new articles of clothing that may be outside your comfort zone with limited cost and guilt.

Sneha Barua

Blazers and Suits. Make a statement from the office to drinks with your friends in a bold suit. You could try bold, bright colours or fabrics like velvet to elevate your wardrobe instantly. Rather than go for traditional shades, try your hand at something loud, such as blue or red. Find a hue that best suits your skin tone and rock it in its entirety. Add accessories like a bold clutch bag and a pair of funky heels. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a versatile option that allows you to stand out amongst the crowd. Blazers can be thrifted instead of bought from brands that charge unbelievable prices!

Price comparison-

Original price of blazers retailed at brands = 5499/- Price of thrifted items from Thrift stores = 350/-

Quality check -

The quality of the thrifted coat has no difference than any branded first-hand items. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s perfect for winters, has rich velvet quality! If you take your time, you can find hidden gems while thrifting.

WOKAL //

DEC 2020

Natural Tones All Over It’s one of the longest-lasting trends for the past few seasons, and it isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. These monochromatic and neutral outfits are easy to replicate and look great on everyone. Choose from sand shaded suit with a turtleneck to a boiler suit or leather skirt. Don’t be afraid to experiment with varying shades of this neutral tones – try sand, camel, or even buff. The opportunities are endless, and it is a timeless option for anyone’s closet.

Price comparison -

Original price of long coat retailed at brands = 3999/- - 7999/- Price of thrifted item from Thrift stores = 300/-

Quality check -

The long coat is from the brand “BestiBelli” which is a Korean Women Brand and has the perfect body-hugging fit to it! It’s soft from the inside however the outside material is not up to the mark. But it does the job on chill winter nights and thus was a good purchase.

WOKAL //

DEC 2020

Blue Tones As one of the most prominent color combinations of the season, neutral tones with a blue twist is a popular choice. It combines some of the hottest hues of the last few months and puts a magical spin on it. Choose from a sleek brown suit with a bright blue bag, or rock a monochrome ensemble in the colourful shade and add a pair of classic leather pumps. It’s a stunning option for anyone and is so versatile that you can try hundreds of different pieces.

Price comparison:

Original price of fuzzy sweater retailed at brands = 1350/- - 1799/- Price of thrifted item from Thrift stores = 100/-

Quality check -

Yes the same fuzzy sweaters you find at brands like H&M and Zara can also be thrifted from Sarojini Nagar, and the price is unbelievable! It’s soft, fuzzy, and fashionable. It needs a bit of layering and you’re good to go!

Layering Winters are when you can rock the layering trend. Multiple pieces that blend into each other and look great! A turtle neck, some pullover, a jacket or a coat over it, or you could even incorporate your crop tops over the pull over and you’re already acing the layering game. Brands like Gucci have a lot of layering going on, but since we all know what goes behind these brands, let’s layer with thrifting items.

Sneha Barua

F A S H I O N

Why 17 years later Kal Ho Naa Ho is the Perfect Pandemic Movie B Y

W O K A L

M E H A K

M A G

P A S R I C H A

D E C - J A N

I S S U E

0 5

LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST

The movieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s essence has always been to live life to the fullest and live in the moment freely. But do any of us actually do that? Most of us in some way or another before 2020 have had such pragmatic and robotic lives that if we look back at it now it seems like all of us were breathing not living. Mehak Pasricha tells us why 17 years later Kal Ho Naa Ho is the perfect pandemic movie.

Wokal Issue 05// Dec - Jan l

By Mehak Parischa

The perfect pandemic movie? Let’s be honest, most of us, if not all have spent this pandemic either sleeping, eating, waiting for the vaccine to come, or binge-watching all the shows and movies we were yet to catch up on or going back to some of our childhood favourites and feel-good films. At some point, all of us have envied the characters and the free lives that they have in the movie, and compared their lives to our current lives, which at this point is within the four walls of our houses. School, college, work, we were continuously being sucked in this vortex of the materialistic world; but did any of us, even for a minute, stop and just enjoy the moment, without posting it on social media or doing it for the “gram”?

Did any of us stop worrying about the next thing on our to-do list and just lived in the moment? Personally, I’d say no. We were wired in such a way that we were always running and existing, not enjoying and living. Keeping all this in mind, during all this pandemic binging, have any of you just sat and thought which movie is perfect for a pandemic? Well, I have the answer for you. If I had to compare with the situation then I’d definitely say that Kal Ho Naa Ho is the perfect pandemic movie.

Comparing

2020 to KHNH What the movie tried telling all of us 17 years ago, makes perfect sense now. Just like the movie with its opening song Pretty Woman and then It’s The Time to Disco, 2020 also started at a pretty happy and high note. Just like Aman and Naina’s friendship buds and grows similarly the year 2020 was also budding to what we thought was definitely going to be our year. But lo and behold, in came March, and the virus entered India and just like Aman after knowing Naina loves him had started to distance himself from Naina, and rather started pushing Rohit towards Naina, similarly the “lit” 2020 that we loved started distancing itself from us and we were thrown into the lockdown. As the movie progressed, slowly but steadily, Rohit and Naina fell in love with each other. Similarly, as the lockdown progressed we fell in love with the simplistic things, found joy in the little things we did in our daily routines. We learned to live and love a life that Gen Z could never have imagined for themselves. I can’t talk about the end without getting overly emotional, but here’s hoping the happy life that Rohit and Naina lived, we can only hope that it can be an indication of the virus vanishing off the face of the earth and things going back to normal for all of us!

’Haso,Jiyo, Muskurao! Kya pata kal ho na ho?

But keeping everything aside, the movie gave us the lesson for our lives, which 2020 has done nothing but prove and strengthen. To quote, one of my all-time favorites and what captures the essence of 2020 and the movie perfectly, “Har ghadi Badal Rahi hai roop zindagi,chaaon hai kabhi kahi hai dhoop zindagi. Har pal yahan, jee bhar jiyo,jo hai samaa, Kal Ho Na Ho” Honestly, if there’s one thing that 2020 has taught us is to live in the moment, don’t leave things undone. Don’t have regrets in your life. Do everything that you have to, want to. You never know what lives gonna throw at you the next moment, so don’t waste this precious time! “Haso, jiyo, muskurao, kya pata Kal Ho Naa Ho!”

DEC - JAN ISSUE 05

A Goan Christmas

Vanshika Seth

All that goes inside a Goan Household as Advent approaches.

Come December and Goa becomes the talk of the town. With its characteristic party culture, Goa serves as an ideal destination for Christmas and New Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Eve. Live music, food, beer, fun, frolic, parties, sun, sand, and the sea describe the perfect facet of Goa during the Christmas and New Year bash. The tropical beaches, spectacular churches, water sports, rave parties, bars, pubs, and delicious Goan food will create a joyous occasion. In fact, it is one of the best places to celebrate Christmas and New Year in India, even the weather is in its best form. Most of us make preparations in advance as accommodations are pre-booked for this is the peak season of Tourism in Goa, but for the Goans, Christmas is a deeply religious festival. The festival is celebrated in a manner similar to that of European countries, thanks to the Portuguese influence brought to the port city by the European explorer Vasco De Gama. Vanshika Seth describes all that goes inside a Goan Household as Advent approaches.

VANSHIKA SETH

BY VANSHIKA SETH

Making of Christmas Sweets

Goa is known for its wide selection of sweets that are generally available all year long. These include bebinca, dosh, dodol, penag, and many more that are always available at markets like Mapusa Market which is just 20 mins from Calangute. But come Christmas, the people of Goa prepare to make a very different selection of sweets that you will only get at this time of the year. Apart from the traditional Christmas fruit cake, you will find marzipans, kul kuls, milk cream, coconut toffee, almond toffee, nankate (also known as snowballs) and a few others. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re lucky and have a few friends living in Goa, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll get to try these unique and amazing sweets or you can always try them out yourself.

WOKAL MAG DEC - JAN ISSUE 05

Soaking of Dry Fruits to Make Cake Huge trays of dried fruits and nuts are brought out and then doused in the finest alcohols like rum, sherry, brandy, and whiskey. This is usually done at the end of October or early November since the fruits need to soak in the alcohol for at least 40 days before it can be used to bake the traditional Christmas fruit cake. Many luxury resorts host grand fruit soaking events at their properties.

Dec 2020

Putting Up the Tree, Hanging The Star, And Decorating The House This is probably the most enjoyable part of celebrating Christmas in Goa. As early as the end of November, Goans start preparing their house for Christmas, and this means getting all the decorations out. One of the first things that have to be done is the hanging of the star, and this is no easy task. When you see these beautiful handmade stars hanging from trees and adorning peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s houses, you know that Christmas is around the corner. In addition to that, many houses indulge in elaborate decorations and lights outside the houses and in their gardens. The same is done at many hotels and resorts in North Goa. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what creates the feeling of Christmas in Goa.

WOKAL MAG

Crib Building

This is one of those events that is very unique to Goa. In many of the villages, crib building competitions are hosted on a large scale, and everyone comes together to participate. Whether itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s between different parishes or just between the houses, the building of a crib is an integral part of Christmas celebrations in Goa. This is another event where the youth get involved, coming up with novel ways to present their cribs. Some build actual flowing streams, while others use lights and motors to create the illusion of stars twinkling and characters moving. In some parts of Goa, live cribs with actors are also made and enacted closer to or on Christmas day. A favorite activity for many visitors to Goa is to rent a bike and ride through the villages checking out all the beautiful cribs that people have made and put on display outside their houses. WOKAL

WOKAL

Midnight Mass and The Grand Christmas Ball On Christmas Eve, Christians across Goa prepare for midnight mass at their local church. They dress in their finest wear and attend mass as a family. Traditionally, the mass starts at 11 pm on December 24 with carol singing and ends after midnight with all the parishioners wishing each other and sharing coffee and cake. After that, they all head to the community center or club to celebrate Christmas at the grand Christmas ball. Christmas parties in Goa are some of the biggest and grandest, second only to the New Year’s Eve parties that happen a few days later. If you’re in Goa in the last week of December and looking for things to do in North Goa, then attending a Christmas and New Year’s party should be on the top of your list. ISSUE 05

HACKS TO IMPROVE YOUR MAKE-UP GAME

Welcome a Glam 2021: Makeup Mistakes to Avoid Next Year

FEATURING MAKEUP ENTHUSIAST HITASHI WOKAL

DECEMBER 2020 //

ISSUE.5

As we all know, 2020 was a year full of blunders.So let’s just try to avoid some common makeup blunders in 2021 so that at least our makeup looks flawless in the upcoming year. Well, if you’re a makeup beginner, this article by Hitashi, is perfect for you. So let’s begin, shall we?

Skipping on primer

Primers are the most neglected part of most makeup routines and it’s so wrong if you think primer makes no difference, it not only fills in your visible pores but also gives a perfect makeup application. You might spend all your time perfecting your makeup but unless you have a primer, the chaos of the party will either cause your makeup to bleed or fade, or your face will look like you have just taken a dip in oil and posed. So now that you know the importance of priming your face before makeup, don’t skip it again!

ISSUE

DEC

JAN

Spider Lashes. First things first, check if your mascara is not expired or crusty because mascaras usually donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have a long shelf life and a crusty mascara will never give you flawless results, no matter what method you use to put on mascara. Never apply more than two coats of mascara, or your eyelashes will end up looking extremely clumpy. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t use mascara on your lower lashes the same way you apply on your upper lashes. It will clump up and give you spider leg lashes. Instead, hold the wand

FEATURING - HITASHI

WOKAL / DEC - JAN ISSUE.5

vertically and apply.

Not setting your base/concealer. Don’t forget to set your base up! Setting up your base with a loose powder will make your makeup last long without creasing but if you’re a dry skin type, just be careful because it can also make you look aged. Believe it or not, face powder emphasizes fine lines and wrinkles. It is best to use it only on your T-zone. If you want to set your whole face with a loose powder, use a wet beauty blender because it gives you control on the amount of product you’re using.

Over lining your lips the wrong way

We all love beautiful, plumped lips but not everyone is born with them but makeup really is magic! Over lining lips is very much in trend these days but people usually fail at it because they lack the right technique to do so. Also, your lips can end up looking weird if you’ve chosen a dark liner with a lighter lipstick shade. One point to always keep in mind while over lining is to only over line the Cupid’s bow and the center of the lower lip, avoid over lining on the sides. Here’s a picture for a better understanding.

By Hitashi

Not removing your makeup There are absolutely no excuses for going to bed without removing all traces of makeup. To keep your skin healthy, make sure you remove your makeup before you go to sleep. Failing to do so will make your skin dry and prone to acne and infections. Sleeping with makeup on can lead to wrinkles. So, ALWAYS take your makeup off before bed for a brighter, more youthful complexion and a slower visible aging process. And if you think wearing makeup leads to acne then you’re wrong, not removing makeup the right way does!

We hope your 2021 will be as flawless as your makeup and if you’re confused about what makeup to wear this Christmas or New Year’s Eve, check out our next article. WOKAL ISSUE 05 DEC - JAN

for

Now that you know what makeup mistakes to avoid, here is a small Christmas gift from us so that you look your best this New year. Our in house MUA, Hitashi, brings to you three looks that are perfect for a glittery evening, and meet the New Year!

WOKAL

- MAKEUP BY HITASHI -

ISSUE 05 // DEC-JAN

DEC - JAN // ISSUE.5 // WOKAL

IN FRAME: HITASHI

Retro Silver Eyes Retro makeup looks are back in fashion and look amazing for a night party so here’s one which will be perfect for this New Year’s Eve party. For this, I first applied black eye shadow on my crease, and then with a concealer, I drew a complete cut crease. Next, I used a silver eyeshadow and with a flat brush, applied it on my lid. Then paired it with a nude lipstick and popped on some lashes. Pair this look with a black dress and a fur coat to look your best! A sleek pulled back hairdo look will compliment your makeup even more. Don’t forget to add some jewelry for some extra class.

Black and Gold Cut Crease We can’t talk about New Year’s Eve makeup looks without including this one on our list. For this look, I did a brown smokey eye and then added some black to it to deepen the colors. After that, I used a concealer to cut a halfcut crease and applied gold eyeshadow on my lid. I paired this look with red lipstick and did some easy loose curls which never fail to look beautiful! You can literally pair this look with any outfit but for this, I’ve paired it with a red scarf and a beige long coat, perfect for this winter!

WOKAL DECEMBER - JANUARY

IN FRAME: HITASHI

Minimal Red Lip Look A red lip never fails to impress and is perfect for when you’re running late to a party but still want to look your best! For this, I smoked out some brown eyeshadow on my lash line and applied some mascara. I then paired it with a beautiful deep red lipstick which really compliments all Indian skin tones well. Now coming to what you should wear, a white dress or a white overcoat will look amazing and don’t forget to pair it with some silver or pearl earrings. For hair, curls will be perfect to make you look chicer and classier.

We hope you loved these looks and try them out this New Year’s Eve or Christmas. We wish you a Merry Christmas and hope you have an amazing year ahead.

WOKAL

Paw-rfect Style for this Winter. “Winter is not a season, it’s a celebration,” says Anamika Mishra and we readily agree with her. As you style your wardrobe for the winter season, welcome this season along with your furry friends and make sure to have the best time of the year with these adorable outfits for your pets. Dakshita Mitra curates a list of warm outfits for your adorable pets ISSUE 5 | WOKAL

DEC - JAN WOKAL MAG

1) Christmas Santa Dress: This lightweight costume made of velvet and fur is the perfect Christmas gift for your pet. It comes with an adorable hat design that helps to protect your pet's head. Available at: https://dougecouture.com

2) HUFT Personalised Tuxedo: Classy tuxedo made from cotton blend fabric, tailor-made to suit your pet and with VelcroÂ closure for convenience. It comes in various other colors and patterns including black, grey, and pink. Available at: https://headsupfortails.com

Dakshita Mitra

3) Elf Pup Costume: Get your pup into the Christmas spirit with this Jingle Elf dog costume featuring a green and red elf hat with a holly leaf detail, a striped bodysuit with a collar and attached arms, and a plush bone. Available at: HalloweenCostumes and Fun

4) Â Green Elf Outfit: Cute elf costume made of durable polyester material, machine washable (hand washes recommended), and easy to care for. Availablettps://www.cart2india.com

Issue 27 | 234

Issue 5 | Dec - Jan

Dakshita Mitra

5) Santa Claus Jumpsuit:

6) Mesh Harness With Leash:

This designer pet outfit will bring both style and comfort to the most playful member of your family. It also comes in various sizes, so make sure itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the perfect fit for your pet this season.

Made of hard-wearing mesh material and nylon along with soft padding, this harness is designed for small pets such as Rabbit, Cat, Guinea Pigs, Hamsters, Etc.

Available at: www.cart2india.com/

By Dakshita Mitra. Issue 5 | WOKAL

Available at: https://www.wish.com

WINTER WOOHOO:

Make the Jolly Season Cozy for your Furry Buddies

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Tis the season to be jolly and also be careful because this might be hard for your furry kids. Enjoy winters with your pets and make this a cakewalk for them by keeping the following tips, by Dakshita Mitra, in your mind while you get through cold weather. Issue 5 Dec - Jan

WOKAL

Paw-Care

While walking your pets, tiny particles – salt, toxins, chemicals, etc. might get stuck between their paws leading to bleeding or irritated skin. Remember to always wipe down/wash their feet and stomach after walking them to avoid these risks.

Fur-Care Never shave your pets completely during winters because fur helps them be warm naturally. But this might vary according to whether your pet is a short-haired or long-haired breed. If your dog is longhaired, trim some fur to minimize clinging of salt or chemical particles that might dry out the skin and if they’re short-haired, do get them something warm to wear because just the fur wouldn’t be enough. You can also get them warm clothing for the season, but remember to remove them when it’s warm around and comb to keep the fur from matting.

Dakshita Mitra

Bathe a little less

Bathe them as little as possible and add a skin and coat supplement to their food to avoid dry and itchy skin, or you could ask your vet for a recommendation of some moisturizing shampoo. Dry bathing is also a good option that you might want to try out. Avoid taking them out for a walk after theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve taken a bath.

Cozy Bedding

Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t let your pet sleep on the floor during winter, set up warm bedding for them according to their needs, and provide them with the required mattresses, blankets, and plenty of enrichment such as toys and a scratching post to encourage them to move and stay active inside the home. Small animals like rabbits, hamsters, and guinea pigs should be given extra bedding and kept away from drafts. Place some blankets over/inside their cage to prevent them from getting cold.

Pet Care for Winters

Food and Water Provide them with sufficient food and water, but make sure you don’t overfeed them. Cold temperatures may bring on lazy behavior and lead to obesity and other diseases. But If you’re increasing the food intake of your pet throughout winter, make sure to exercise them regularly to burn the excess energy. Check up on your pet’s water dish to make sure it’s not too cold for them and replenish it with fresh water every few hours.

Healthy Little Pets Cold weather may worsen some medical conditions such as arthritis and lead to others like frostbite or hypothermia. It’s important to make sure your pet is healthy during the cooler months, especially if they’re older or they’ve got an existing condition. Do remember to get them checked out to make sure they’re perfectly okay and handling the season like pros.

By Dakshita Mitra

WOKAL // DEC - JAN // Issue 5

Some Extra Tips:

Reduce their outdoor time in winters and avoid leaving them outside when the temperature drops. But if taking them out, make sure itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s when the sun is out. And use space heaters with caution around pets, because they can burn or they can be knocked over, potentially starting a fire. Be aware of your pet's tolerance for cold weather, and adjust accordingly. Pet-proof the Christmas tree and all the decorative pieces to avoid injuries remember to keep all sorts of sweet things away from their reach as they might be toxic for them. PS: Cats and dogs have the habit of sleeping under your car hood or beside the wheels to hide away from the winter chills. This might turn dangerous for them if you switch on the engine before they get the chance to move away. So, always remember to bang on your carâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hood to scare them away before you take off.

CREDITS Section heads Director, Art and Layout : Alisha Hussain Director of Photography : Aabiyah Zehra Fashion : Sneha Barua Makeup : Hitashi Food: Ikshita Bhatia Photography : Itu Dutta and Aabiyah Zehra Arts and Creativity : Alisha Hussain and Shumaila Masood Pride and Prejudice: Elizabeth Reji and Kashish Chopra Pet care: Dakshita Mitra and Sarah Wasim Social Media and PR: Maahin Saeed and Sakshi Madaan Travel: Vanshika Seth Culture: Jigisha Sharma (Fashion) and Vinay Agrawal (Pop Culture) Reviews: Mehak Pasricha

Editor in Chief: Alina Ahmed Editor: Aabiyah Zehra Layouts and design by Alisha Hussain and Shumaila Masood Cover picture by Aabiyah Zehra Cover Model Sheikh Almaas Islam Cover design by Alina Ahmed, Aabiyah Zehra and Alisha Hussain Interview courtesy Sarah Hussain (@zingyzest) Writefully Yours (Simran and Karan) (@writefully__yours) Features The Caravan: Jamshed Kavina (@the.parsi) Francis Meslet (Architectural Photographer) (@francismeslet)

Article contributor: Hiba

WOKAL

December 2020-January 2021

INFORM. INSIGHT. INSPIRE. WOKAL MAGAZINE

ISSUE 05| DECEMBER - JANUARY

WOKAL I S S U E

5 | D E C E M B E R - J A N U A R Y